ALL ABOARD...!

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trusts have again collaborated with the Steamship Company to run two wildlife specials onboard Scillonian III, to provide passengers to the Isles of Scilly with the opportunity to spot the diverse marine life that use the local waters. On Saturdays 26th September and 10th October, the Trust’s marine biodiversity guide Paul Semmens will travel with passengers to help them experience what can be spotted living in the surrounding seas.

Paul has been a RSPB guide on the boat for many years and is currently working onboard the Scillonian surveying and guiding for the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust’s Marine Biodiversity Project. Paul says, ‘It is great to be able to help the Wildlife Trusts by educating people onboard the Scillonian, and showing them what they would otherwise be missing. So far this year I have seen several minke whales, bottlenose dolphins as well as good numbers of harbour porpoises, common dolphins, basking sharks and ocean sunfish. We have also seen a huge variety of seabirds including balearic and sooty shearwaters, storm petrels, arctic, pomarine and great skuas, and sabine’s gull.’

September and October are well known for rare birds on Scilly, arriving on the islands from as far as Europe or even America. This time of year is also noted for the variety of species in the sea, with previous trips seeing ocean sunfish, orcas, minke whales and harbour porpoises as well as bottlenose, risso’s and common dolphins. Paul continues, ‘The Scillonian is certainly the best way to see dolphins and whales. So far this year, I have seen animals on every trip.’

The Scillonian sails at 9.15 am and leaves St Mary’s at 4.30 pm. To receive a discount when using the Scillonian, just mention Cornwall Wildlife Trust when booking and you will only pay the concessionary ticket price of £25, a saving of £10.

To book your trip, contact the Steamship Company on 0845 710 5555 or email sales@islesofscilly-travel.co.uk. Alternatively visit the Isles of Scilly Travel Centre, Quay Street, Penzance TR18 4BZ. For details of marine sightings from Scillonian III go to http://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/wildlife.htm

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